John bapttist daveggio



(No Model.)

. r J. B. DAVEGGIO.

ORCHARD GUARD. No. 333,611, Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

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' guard. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the UNITED STATES JOHN BAPTTIST DAVEGGIO,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF PAIOINES, CALIFORNIA.

ORCHARD-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,611, dated January 5, 1886. Application filed April 25, 1885. Serial No. 163,489. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN BAPTTIST DAVEG- GIO. a citizen of the United States, residing at Paicines, in the county of San Benito and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Orchard Guards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to orchard-guards, or what are more commonly known as scarecrows,which are placed in fields and orchards to frighten off birds and small game.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which will serve to more efficiently attain the end in view by substituting for the stationary motionless objects now in use a revolving guard arranged to cause the sounding of an alarm, for the purpose well known.

With this object inview the said invention consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved orchardsame. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line w at, Fig. 2.

Like letters are used to indicate corresponding parts of the same figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a post or standard, of any desirable height, arranged to support the guard aconvenient distance above the ground. In the upper end of this post is secured the lower bifurcated end of a short upright, B. This upright passes through a vertical opening provided in a bracket, 0, and is swiveled therein so that said bracket may be allowed to freely turn, in the manner well known. The bracket 0 is provided with two upwardly-extending arms, B B, at the upper ends of which is journaled a horizontal shaft, E, the ends of which shaft being extended beyond the arms B B, for the purposes presently described.

On one of the extended ends of the shaft E is mounted a wind-wheel, F, which comprises the usual hub, spokes or arms, and the blades or fans. These blades or fans G are constructed from a flat piece of sheet metal, substanby means of tially elliptical in form, one side or edge of the ellipse being bent or curved out nearly at right angles to the body of the blade,as shown at H. It will be observed that the bent portion of the fans or blades will catch the wind, and thus cause the rotation of the shaft E.

On the other extended end of the shaft E is mounted a rectangular block or frame-piece, I,the periphery of which is grooved or recessed at the corner, as at J.

Within the recesses J at the four corners of the block I, are pivoted a corresponding number of rods, K, carrying weights L on their outer ends. These weights are preferably rounded like a ball, so that when strikingthe plate M they will glance or be deflected off from the same, and thus binding of the device will be avoided. The plate M is attached at one end to and projects transversely from the vane-bar N, its free end receiving the impact of the weights, and causing an alarm to be sounded, and thus serve the purpose designed.

In operation the weights or balls strike the outer free end of this plate successively, and cause a continuous clicking sound to be kept up so long as the wind-wheel turns. It will be apparent that instead of this plate I may substitute therefor a hell or other alarm,

have greater effect when in use. The vane-bar N carries at its outer end a vane, P, which will serve to keep the wheel F in the wind, to accommodate the device to the many changes in the direction thereof.

On the shaft E, between the arms of the bracket 0, is fixed or splined a ratchet-wheel, Q, with which engages a spring-pawl, R, projecting upward from the base of the bracket. This pawl and ratchet will serve to prevent the wheel from turning in an opposite direction from that which is desired, the shaft be ing held from moving backward, and thus the ball will strike the plate or other alarm at the necessary point to cause the ringing thereof.

The operation of my invention may be briefly recited as follows: The guard is erected on the post A at any desired place in the field, orchard, or garden at a sufficient distance above the ground so that its wheel will readily catch the wind, and yet not be in the way. Whenwhich a ringing sound will be produced, which will be more desirable and the wheel is revolved, the shaft E is rotated, the block I correspondingly turned, and cansing the weighted rods K to be thrown out by centrifugal force," the weights or balls Lstriking the plate M at the lowest point of their revolution and producing the alarm, as hereinbefore explained. It will be seen that the grooves or recesses J in the periphery of the rectangular block I'GXtGDd across the corners thereof, forming inclined ways, and thus the weighted rods K will be supported or held in an inclined direction while at the highest point of their plane of movement, so that when brought down they will have increased power to correspondingly increase the force of the blow given to the plate M. It will be observed that by the connection of the plate M with the vane-bar, which is rigidly secured to the bracket, when the latter is turned around or shifted by the vane to throw the wheel into the wind, the plate will be retained in the same relative 7 position to the wheel-shaft, since the latter will be also turned by the same-movement. By locating the plate M below the shaft the weighted balls will be sure to strike the plate,

no matter in which direction the wheel is turning. The halls will also strike the plate with greater force and sureness of action than would be the case were the plate arranged above or alongside of the wheel-shaft.

My improvement is simple in construction, can be readily applied in position, and will prove of great utility in use. By means of the same the objections urged against the old form of scare-crows will be entirely overcome. The inanimate, motionless objects heretofore used for this purpose have proven of little benefit in'use' for many reasons, which are not necessary to state here.

My improvement will serve to effectually frighten ofi crows, squirrels, rabbits, and other small game, for the noise made by the action of the balls will be continuously kept up.

If desired, the plate, as before stated, may be changed to one having a louder tone, or a bell may be substituted therefor, so that should the intruders become fearless by being accustomed to the sound of the guard a new alarm of a greater or less depth of tone may be employed to effectually keep them in awe of the guard, and more especially of the surrounding field.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The herein-described orchard or field guard, comprising a swiveled bracket, the vane, the wind-wheel, its shaft, the pawl and ratchet, the grooved block on the wheel-shaft, a series of pivoted weighted rods fitted in the grooves of this block, and a plate, bell, or other alarm arranged and adapted to be struck by the weights on the rods successively, for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein-described orchard-guard, comprising the swiveled bracket, the windwheel, its shaft, the vane, and a series of weighted rods attached to the shaft, and a plate, bell, or other alarm arranged below the wheel-shaft and adapted to be struck by the weight on the rod, for the purpose set forth.

3. The herein-described orchard-guard,comprising a swiveled bracket, the wind-wheel, its shaft, the vane, vane-bar, a plate, bell, or other alarm attached to the vanebar, and a block fitted on the wheel-shaft and carrying a series of weighted rods arranged and adapt ed to strike the alarm in succession, for the purpose set forth.

4. The horizontal shaft provided with a wind wheel at one end, in combination with a series of pivoted weighted rods connected to the other end of the shaft, and a plate, bell, or other alarm arranged below the shaft at such distance therefrom as to be struck by the weights on the rods, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the wind'wheel and its shaft, of a grooved block on the shaft,

a series of pivoted Weighted rods fitted in the grooves of the block, and a plate, bell, or other alarm arranged to be struck by the weights on the rods, as set forth.

6. The combination, with the wind-wheel and its horizontal shaft, of a frame-piece or block arranged vertically on the shaft, aseries of weighted rods pivoted at different points on the block, the swiveled bracket below the wheel-shaft, and a bell, plate, or other alarm attached to the bracket, and adapted to be struck by the weights on the rods, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BAPTTIST DAVEGGIO.

Witnesses:

J. N. SPENCER, J. W. ORITEs.

ICO 

